Defeated, yet I win,
she cried, for I do but pass before thee to prepare the path that thou shah tread, and to make ready thy place in the Under-world. Till we meet again I pledge thee, for I am destroyed. Ayesha's horsemen are in my streets, and, clothed in lightnings at their head, rides Ayesha's avenging self.
So she drank, and fell dead—but now. Look, her breast still quivers. Afterwards, that old man would have murdered me, for, being roped, I could not resist him, but the door burst in and thou earnest. Spare him, he is of her blood, and he loved her.
Then Leo sank back into the chair where we had discovered him bound, and seemed to fall into a kind of torpor, for of a sudden he grew to look like an old man.
Thou art sick,
said Ayesha anxiously. Oros, thy medicine, the draught I bade thee bring! Be swift, I say.
The priest bowed, and from some pocket in his ample robe produced a phial which he opened and gave to Leo, saying—
Drink, my lord; this stuff will give thee back thy health, for it is strong.
The stronger the better,
answered Leo, rousing himself, and with something like his old, cheerful laugh. I am thirsty who have touched nothing since last night, and have fought hard and been carried far, yes—and lived through that hellish storm.
Then he took the draught and emptied it.
There must have been virtue in that potion; at least, the change which it produced in him was wonderful. Within a minute his eyes grew bright again, and the colour returned into his cheeks.
Thy medicines are very good, as I have learned of old,
he said to Ayesha; but the best of all of them is to see thee safe and victorious before me, and to, know that I, who looked for death, yet live to greet thee, my beloved. There is food,
and he pointed to a board upon
